Dance Training

Looking for your child’s first dance class or wishing to improve and build on a pre-existing foundation within Contemporary Technique? NorthWestDance and The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training in Dance (CAT) offer classes from foundation to intermediate level, offering participants from the age of 6 – 17 years old a fun and insightful experience into the exciting world of dance. Our open classes allow young people to develop knowledge and skills in contemporary technique and the creative process, whether they are considering applying for the CAT at some point in the future, or simply love to dance.

Are you aged 11-16 and love to dance? Then check out our Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) scheme.

Part of a family of National CAT Schemes across the country, The Lowry CAT is a part-time, pre-vocational course that gives young people access to high quality dance training. It’s ideal if you’re hoping to progress toward full-time training in the future.

The scheme will give you an important foundation in dance and allow you to reach your potential towards a sustainable and successful career in dance.

Benefits include: 

• Take part in a minimum of 9 hours of training per week in contemporary and ballet technique, pilates and creative exploration
• Supplementary sessions – such as body conditioning, nutrition and dance in context
• Intensive courses –  opportunities to work with some of the best national and international companies that visit The Lowry every year
• Individual training plans (ITP) – each student will receive an ITP, which will set out the programme of training, study, work and related activities

The CAT is funded by the Music and Dance Scheme through the Department of Education, providing financial support for families through means-tested grants

The CAT is funded by the Music and Dance Scheme through the Department of Education, providing financial support for families through means-tested grants. Click here to download the Fee & Grant Information for 2019-2020.

• 78% of families receive financial support from the Department for Education’s Music and Dance Scheme
• 48% of students receive full-grants for their training

Grants are means-tested based on family’s annual earnings per tax year, with deductions and allowances made for dependents in accordance with the Department for Education’s guidelines.

Following the NorthWestDance Open Days, suitable candidates aged 11-16 can apply to audition. Once on the scheme young people can stay until they are 18.

This year’s auditions will take place on Sunday 9th June 2019 at The Lowry, Salford Quays, for applicants looking to start in the next academic year September 2019.

To attend the audition you must first complete an Application Form. (Opens as a Word Doc)

Application Forms will be available at our Open Days to find out more visit the Open Days Page.

Application Forms must be completed in full and delivered to:
The Lowry CAT, The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ

**Deadline for submission of Application Forms is Sunday 2nd June 8pm**
Any applications submitted after this date may not be accepted.

Upon receipt of your application form a member of The Lowry CAT Team will contact you with an invitation to attend the audition and an outline of the schedule for the day. Please note the audition day usually starts at 9.15am finishing at approx. 6pm.

Auditions can be a very tense and nerve wracking experience even for the most seasoned of professional dancers. It is therefore important to recognise that your decision to attend already demonstrates a strong sense of self-motivation and commitment.

Please be advised that the audition process is devised in order to assess true potential and ability rather than technical excellence. The creative and choreographic elements of the audition will give you an opportunity to demonstrate this potential and it is important to note that every effort will be made to create a safe and relaxed environment in order that you can work to your maximum potential.

Even attending an audition is a valuable learning experience and in many ways will benefit future applications that you make. We would ask therefore that you try, even though it is sometimes difficult to do so; to approach the audition as though you would any other workshop and enjoy the process of the day.

Each year, we offer FREE taster workshops to schools, colleges and youth groups from across the North West region as part of our outreach and recruitment programme. Our aim is to encourage more young people to consider their future in dance and to discover the potential within the training available through the CAT Scheme.

For more information about how to sign up to our free CAT taster workshops, download this handy guide here. (Opens as a Word Doc)

If you are interested in booking a FREE CAT taster workshop, please contact Jenni at Jenni.Boardman@thelowry.com / 0161 876 2104.

For more information about The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training please visit NorthWestDance.